European Commission proposes EU set-aside in 2GHz MSS spectrum

TL;DR: The European Commission proposed a new allocation model for the 2GHz mobile satellite services spectrum band, with one-third reserved for government and critical communications use and part of the commercial portion reserved for EU-based providers. The plan includes an EU-level selection process for cross-border services and regulatory consistency across the bloc. The commercial uses named in the proposal include direct-to-device smartphone connectivity and IoT applications.

The European Commission proposed an allocation plan for the 2GHz band for mobile satellite services, with most of the spectrum set aside for operators based in the European Union. European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen presented the proposal. The plan would reserve one-third of the band for government and critical communications use, while the remaining two-thirds would be available for commercial services.

Under the proposal, the part reserved for government and critical communications would be assigned to an operator within the European Union and linked to IRIS2 infrastructure. Of the spectrum made available for commercial use, half would be reserved for providers based in the European Union and the other half would be open to bidders from any country. The commercial applications cited by the European Commission include direct-to-device smartphone connectivity and IoT services.

The European Commission said it plans an EU-level selection process for assigning the spectrum so operators can provide cross-border services under a consistent regulatory approach across the bloc. Licences currently active in the 2GHz band were also allocated on an EU-wide basis. Virkkunen said the band is important for extending voice and internet connectivity to areas in the European Union where terrestrial networks are unavailable.

Related questions

• How would the European Commission divide the 2GHz MSS spectrum between government and commercial use?
• What share of the commercial 2GHz MSS spectrum would be reserved for EU-based providers?
• What services did the European Commission identify for the 2GHz MSS band?
• How does the European Commission plan to assign the 2GHz MSS licences across the EU?